I just read an article about the rise and fall of Paula Deen. Let me start off by saying that I don’t condone the use of hateful speech.
I think as a culture we enjoy building people to superstardom status and then we love to watch them tumble hard, all the way down and when they are as far as they can go we start to stomp and kick them. There is some sweet satisfaction that is gained by almost stripping all humanity from them. It isn’t just with celebrities. I have seen it done just generally with everyday people.
I have said things that I regret. In the heat of the moment I have said things that I didn’t mean but said them because they were convenient, easy, trash words readily available to the situation-even though they don’t mirror my true feelings. I have felt shame and remorse and grateful for not being in a position where it would haunt me for always. I am pretty sure if we were all to be honest we are all guilty at one time or another. Under oath, I would hurt a lot of people I love with all I got. Good or bad we have given some words a lot of power. In any extreme emotion we naturally want to pull at those words, grab them and breath life into them. They have meaning and they can bless or pierce a soul.
She is a wounded bird. I think many of us can relate to being in a place of such remorse and sorrow, willing to give and do anything just to have a little mercy thrown at you. To be given the grace needed to prove that it was all just a big mistake and the grace to pick oneself up and to continue on being a wiser better person.
As Christians we need to be better at setting that example. The measure we judge someone we will be judged with. So we need to make sure we remove that log in our eye before we point out the speck in someone else’s eye. We can then see clearly and take a different approach to the situation (Matthew 7:1-5). Romans 3:23 says we ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. I doesn’t say some, but all. I like what Galatians 6:1 says about the attitude we should take as believers when another believer sins “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believeris overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.”.
Ephesians 1:7 reminds us that we have redemption through His (Jesus Christ) blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance of God’s grace. If God is willing to forgive who are we not to?
This is my perspective as a believer to other believers. I think we need to be the ones offering the olive branch to our brothers and sisters. Remember, forgiveness doesn’t mean we let them off the hook it just means that when they repent we give them the grace and mercy needed to make things right again. We can stand behind them and offer love and encouragement just as our heavenly Father does time after time for us.
I know I am better because of the grace given to me and through it God was able to use it for good (Romans 8:28). Let’s take joy in building up and not tearing down.
~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca
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